Analytical Instrument Documents

Dedicated SIM/SRM data quantitative analysis software for Dioxins.

Dioxins are a general term for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Their structures consist of two chlorinated rings. Many congeners differ in terms of number of chlorine atoms and binding sites (Fig. 1). These substances are considered as persistent organic pollutants (POPS) due to their presence in the environment and the health risks associated. A World Health Organization (WHO) study has demonstrated the health risks (carcinogenic and immunotoxic) when population are exposed to them. In addition, dioxins have been regulated by the Stockholm convention on POPs in May 2001. In particular, 17 substances have to be monitored because they are regulated (7 PCDDs and 10 PCDFs). The highest toxic compound is the 2378-TeCDD. Currently, dioxins analysis can be done not only using GC-HRMS but also with GC-MS/MS according to European commission regulation (EU644/2017). Especially, GC-triple quadrupole MS is interesting in terms of handling, instrument size and operating costs. Recently, JEOL has developed a new GC-triple quadrupole MS (JMS-TQ4000GC) and a new dedicated dioxins analysis software called TQ-DioK. In this study, we evaluated JMS-TQ4000GC with TQ-DioK using dioxins standard samples.

Analysis of Pesticides in Spinach Purchased from Local Grocers Using Triple-Quadrupole GC-MS/MS Analysis

Analysis of Pesticides in Kale Purchased from Local Grocers Using Triple-Quadrupole GC-MS/MS Analysis

Analysis of Pesticides in Honey Using QuEChERS Extraction and Triple-Quadrupole GC-MS/MS Analysis

Terpenes are a classification of aromatic compounds that are nearly ubiquitous throughout nature. Terpenes are primarily found in plants, but can also be observed in marine organisms, insects, and, to a lesser extent, higher-order animals. They are present in cannabis in significant concentrations and are one of the most interesting and diverse aspects of cannabis. They provide the unique aroma of the plant and are critical to the cannabis experience; however, understanding the role that they play in the psychoactive experience of cannabis consumption is still not well understood. Terpenes themselves are built from repeating five-carbon units called isoprene. Their classification as a monoterpene, diterpene, etc., is dependent on the number of isoprene units in their structure. Terpene content in cannabis is typically not regulated, but can provide unique insights into the “flavor profile” of the cannabis flower. Demand for terpene testing has increased significantly in the past few years as consumers become increasingly interested in the terpene profiles of the cannabis strains they consume. Cannabis has a high abundance of mono- and sesquiterpenes, and the majority of terpenes present in the flower fall into these classifications. This study presents a comprehensive gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the analysis of 22 terpenes in cannabis flower, with a focus on developing a rapid and robust method for the analysis of terpenes in a commercial laboratory.

This study presents a comprehensive method for the analysis of gas chromatograph (GC)-amendable pesticides in Cannabis flower. Furthermore, this method uses dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) to help mitigate matrix effects that are common in the flower extract. Three selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions were used for each target pesticide. This study was focused on developing a robust and sensitive method for GC amendable pesticides in Cannabis flower for use in the state of California. However, LC-MS/MS would also be required to analyze the complete California pesticide list.

Hemp is a strain of Cannabis sativa that has multiple industrial uses including paper, plastics, woven goods, and even food. While certain strains of Cannabis sativa are well-known for their use as a recreational drug due the presence of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), hemp strains are defined by the U.S. federal government as those that contain less than 0.3% THC.1 Additionally, hemp strains typically contain more cannabidiol (CBD),2 which was recently approved by the FDA to treat certain types of epilepsy, and is currently being investigated as a medical treatment for other afflictions.

JEOL msPrimo and Escrime software provide all of the tools needed to develop optimized methods for target compound quantitation and report generation. In this application note, we describe a sensitive method for analyzing pesticides in Cannabis sativa matrix using the SRM capabilities of our triple quadrupole system.

As "food safety" is recognized as an increasingly important issue on a global scale, many nations have their own regulations on residual agricultural chemicals in food. In Japan, the positive list system, which was enforced at the end of May 2006, stipulates a uniform standard of 10 ppb as a quantity that is considered safe for human health. Under the positive list system, more agricultural chemicals need to be examined, and as a result, techniques capable of accurately and collectively analyzing residual agricultural chemicals in food are in increasing demand. While mass spectrometry (MS) is known for its high detection sensitivity, MS/MS is becoming the mainstream of pesticide analysis for its superior sensitivity and selectivity. The JMS-TQ4000GC, JEOL’s latest GC-MS/MS, has a unique ion storage/ejection mechanism within the MS/MS collision cell and incorporates new firmware to support MS/MS analysis with up to 36,000 transitions. In this work, we report the stability of 8 pesticides that were added to spinach extract.